COBRAColeraine Alumni Association I s s u e 10— 2017 Rowing at Over The Years Alan Anderson

Okay, to avoid confusion, I’m not THAT (unsuccessful) Irish Championship years ago (it still hurts to count the Alan – the Olympian. I’m a generation attempts, and winning a round at Henley. years!). As I thought about it, there earlier (’74-’81). Given that I spent the Then age and injury sentenced me to 21 seemed to be four types of changes – the first four years coxing, nature didn’t have years as Treasurer (and coach, boat flippant observations; the more pertinent the Olympics in mind for me. Though I repairer, builder, .....) at Lagan Scullers, changes to the club; what actually hasn’t managed to grow enough to have to start before finally returning to the homeland changed; and then what maybe should rowing in my 6th form and really got into to help Jeremy’s coaching team on change in the future ..... serious heavy training while at Saturday mornings. Firstly, the passing observations. I won’t Southampton University for four years. But enough about me. I was asked to even mention the obvious proliferation of Returning to Belfast Rowing Club, I can write this article about the differences mobile phones, but will start with cars – only claim my highlights to be a few that I’ve noticed in the club since I left, 35 there doesn’t seem to be a single child

1979/80 crew

Alan Anderson, Willie Fleming, John Dean, Peter Huey, Stephen Peden, Steven Yeoh, Ronald Walker, Ian Murphy, Alan Wilson (cox)

who walks or rides. I recall one guy in my whirr of so many rowing machines. It is an sports. Through the omnipresence of era who had to cycle miles to catch a bus impressive suite of equipment, even if it water bottles, even with the first year to school, then do his rowing training, instils fear and pain in every child as they venturing out between the bridges, who catch the bus then cycle a few more miles are measured to the tenth of a second of won’t even work up a sweat, suggests to home, every day. (Note to Jeremy: ban their performance. How relaxed it makes my cynical mind that in this modern cars except mine and make them jog the old “tank” feel. It was much less of a world, appearance and accessories are down the lane as a warm up). You don’t piece of torture, with its swooshing more important than effort .... or am I just even need to hold your nose as you pass puddles and not a measurement in sight. getting old? But on a Saturday Inow the pig sty as it has been physically and Today there is no escaping the numbers regularly take crews down to the metaphorically replaced with a gas tank. on an ergo! Barmouth, and always double outings on a No wonder I got a funny look when I sent Saturday – in my day we never went Whilst talking equipment, I hardly need them on a warm up run to the pig sty! below the railway bridge, just up to the mention that the current fleet is Cutts and back, maybe twice. Winning is Then there’s the river, which I guess is impressive (though we could still do with always getting harder. much as it was, but it seems a much more some more). And a far cry from the all dangerous place to me now – maybe wooden fleet I learnt on. We still had two What hasn’t changed? Well, it is only with because I’m more aware of the dangers. huge clinker eights (Ballycairn and the wisdom of old age that you realise As a child you thrill in the excitement of Ballysally, if I remember right) that took what rowing, with all its trials and shooting the rapids of the Old Bridge – about 16 of us to lift. If you were good, tribulations, does for your character. But I today as a coach, I’m mentally preparing you progressed to the “shell” boats, still see that today in the confidence the rescue plan every time I see a maybe the “Restricted” ones that still had instilled in a beaming first year who whirlpool crab. Clothing - I really can’t a keel running along them. Only the best manages to do a loop from the steps in a remember wearing anything other than a got the racing shells. All polished with yellow training scull. Or the fear singlet, maybe with a T-shirt under it in Turtle Wax before every regatta. Oh yes – conquered after a capsize when the next the winter, and a pair of white double at regattas, coxes wore whites and blazer. outing ends with an accomplished smile. seated rowing shorts, if you were lucky. I can’t see that happening today. The cox who realises he is appreciated Today it is all lycra multi-layer thermals, when his crew bring him birthday gifts. As Of course introducing girls doubles the gilets and waterproofs. Hypothermia they say, all humanity is there, and demand for coaches and this is where I never did me any harm (except maybe rowing, like most sports, is a great way for see the biggest change since “my days”. stunt my growth?). Yet, even properly children to learn it. And winning, that is Back then, virtually each year had its own clothed, there is still a reluctance to help still good too! rowing master, most with years of rowing pull the launches out when it is a really experience. Today there are none (though And 8am in mid-winter is still as cold as 35 low tide and the trailers drop off the maybe the students prefer to escape from years ago! And the Bann still whips up into bottom of the ramp. teachers for their sport!). Thankfully, a storm at the slightest breeze. Nobody But what about the real changes? Well the Jeremy is in position now, which makes wants to wash the boat. The rain always obvious one is the introduction of girls mid-week games days almost possible, stops just as you are coming off the water. since the amalgamation. I can only see but Saturdays or events would be Some things never change! good in this. Quite apart from all the impossible without extra assistance. The future – what might change? As benefits shared with co-education, it Obviously the pressures on teaching today hinted earlier, the structure of the club is opens our wonderful sport to twice the are different from the 70’s, so we can’t much improved, and will hopefully go audience (I’m old enough to remember expect things to run the same. COBRA is from strength to strength, with a more clubs that have only relatively recently doing a sterling job in physical and stable basis. As COBRA matures, its allowed female members!). Does it allow financial support, as well as lobbying the membership can only increase. Hopefully girls to feel equal in a once male school, but I fear the structure and a stronger club will then result in a dominated sport (and world)? Without funding of the club isn’t yet as sound as it stronger COBRA, with female generalising too much, I think the girls in could be. representation as our alumni go out into the current generation are showing the Part and parcel of this is the unmistakable the wider rowing world and bring back boys up a bit, so I think yes, it does. Mind fact that the quality and quantity of their experiences (and finances) to help you, the clubhouse seems an awful lot rowing is so much higher than I remember the next generations. noisier on a Saturday morning than I in my years. Perhaps this is all part of remember it – which either means girls Alan Anderson evermore demanding progress in all chatter more ... or maybe it is just the

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Corey McDowell

For the 2016/17 season, I had decided to take a step back from full time rowing at Reading to focus more on university studies and give myself a break from the demands of combining training 12 times a week whilst studying for a degree. This meant I was no longer doing as much competitive racing but I was still training fairly regularly at the boat club to maintain fitness. The main highlight of the head season was forming a crew with two RUBC alumni members and a current PhD student to race at Reading University Head. It was great to be back in a boat racing again with some old training sessions done with the crew, difficult racing conditions. Despite this, friends, unfortunately we were not as fit and to shed a couple of pounds to get we went out aggressively at the start as we used to be as our result showed back to lightweight again! We arrived in and managed to maintain our rhythm we were quite a bit slower compared to Subotica in high spirits and we quickly throughout the race and we finished in two years ago! Still, a very enjoyable got accustomed to the course. However, 4th place, a very respectable result for day was had and it worked in well with in the race for lanes on Friday it was the crew given the circumstances. We the annual RUBC dinner later that clear that substituting into the boat at were quite lucky we did not end up evening. short notice was going to be sinking! Overall it was a fantastic trip challenging. We struggled to keep up and a brilliant end to 4 years at RUBC. It The final race of the season for RUBC with the rest of the crews and finished almost made me miss the daily grind of was the European Universities Regatta last, well off the pace. We were really rowing during term time! in Subotica, Serbia. The club had frustrated with the result, so we went qualified seven boats for the event, but Now I'm currently working as a tutor back to the drawing board, made some a member of the 2nd lightweight quad and rowing coach at Wanganui changes and by the time of the final on had to pull out due to injury two weeks Collegiate School in New Zealand. Sunday we were feeling more confident before the club set off to Serbia. I was Outside of the classroom and down at of getting a positive result. Conditions given the call-up and hastily made my the river, I'm working with the U15 for the final were atrocious, with a way back to Reading to get some squad and sometimes helping out with strong cross-headwind creating very the U16 squads too. The U15 and U16 boys recorded a win in their first race in an 8+ together at Wanganui Regatta, and the U15 boys were unlucky to lose by a foot in the quad race. Unfortunately, the other regatta this term in New Plymouth was cancelled, but we have more races in Wanganui, Karapiro and Twizel coming up in the new year and it'll be exciting to see how the boys and girls develop for those regattas!

Corey McDowell

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5 years ago - 2013

COBRA helped purchase a Stampfli 8+. The Schoolboys beat COBRA, winning the Hamburg trophy for the second year in a row. The School competed at School’s Head for the third consecutive year.

Senior squad was: Adam Millar, Corey McDowell, Scott Warke, Matthew Warke, Jonathan Kennedy, Reuben Simpson, Aaron Meenagh, Oliver Gage, Jack Mullan, Jack Murray, Ben Taggart, Josh Taggart and Marc Bucklee.

10 years ago - 2008 10 years ago the CAIBC Quad of Jonny Mitchell, Michael McNaul, Robert Hart and Jamie McBurney claimed 2nd place in the J18 Quad at the Irish Championships.

15 years ago - 2003 CAI competed at Tideway HORR London, Henley Royal Regatta and Irish Championships (bronze - J18 4+). Squad: Conor Campbell, Iain Giffin, Jason Taggart, David Dunlop, Colin Stewart, Chris Smyth, James Humphrey, Phil Hamill, Alex Humphrey, Graham Blair, David Ewart, Peter Topping.

Naming ceremony for the 'Camus' at Henley Royal Regatta performed by Olympic gold medallist Tim Foster.

20 years ago - 1998

26th July 1997 saw Johnny Coulter representing Ireland at the Home International Regatta which were held in Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham. He competed in the coxed 4 where Ireland took the gold medal, ahead of England, Scotland and Wales.

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Alumni in Rowing

Many Coleraine Alumni and members of in the World COBRA are still involved in rowing in one Championships in the way or another. Some are top level LM4x. Joel raced the athletes for club or country whereas some LM2- all season making take more pleasure messing about on the the A final in all major river. Many still brave the elements to events with Bronze and coach the next generation of school and Silver in the World Cups university athletes, and a few enjoy the and a fourth place in the sport as a supporter from the side-lines. World Championships.

After retiring from International Mark McMullan has competition, is now been coaching Novice Assistant Coach at Cambridge University Men’s squad at Queen’s Boat Club. His main role is coach of the University for the last 3 When not teaching Maths at Belfast Inst. 2nd VIII Goldie. seasons, the Novice 8+ won BUCS, Irish Stephen Archibald, runs the school Universities and Irish Championships last Richard’s brother Peter Chambers and rowing club there. year. He was also awarded the Donal Joel Cassells compete for GB Rowing. In Murphy Prize for excellence at Queen’s Iain Kennedy is a long time coach at 2017, Peter competed in all the various rowing last year for his continued Portora in Enniskillen (now Enniskillen categories of lightweight sculling events contributions to rowing at the university. Royal Grammar) and has recently had the with highlights being winning the LM2x at inaugural girls J16 Ulster Championship Calum McBurney is Captain of Belfast trophy named in his honour. Rowing Club, and finished 5th in the Intermediate Four at the Irish Last but not least, Jamie Gibson, Ross Championships. Cochrane and Alan Anderson give up a significant amount of time and effort Jack Murray is rowing when not studying coaching the boys and girls at Coleraine at Manchester University, whilst Jordan Grammar with Jeremy, with more Gregg is President of his club Harper occasional help from Philip Hamill and Adams. Michael McNaul still occasionally Alex Humphrey. drives the bus for his alma mater, Glasgow. I’m sure we have forgotten some people, please get in touch and we’d love to Stephen Feeney does some work on the include you next year! mental preparation side of rowing with one of the top junior clubs in England, St. the first World Cup in Belgrade and Silver Pauls School. Gift Aid Status

Following last years achievement of reregistering COBRA as an official charity after rule changes in Northern Ireland, COBRA Treasurer, Philip Hamill fought through significant red tape, to get Gift Aid Status for the organisation. This means that any future donations from tax paying members are worth 25% more to COBRA, and we can back date donations to June 2016. We will be contacting all members to request them to complete a consent form allowing us to claim gift aid on your behalf

For reference, we are company number 45083, charity number 104834 and have Gift Aid registration NI00680.

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Coleraine Grammar 2016-17

The September term commenced with Alec Scott, most improved rower went to complex. The boat will have two primary almost boxing day sales like frenzy as the Matthew Boyce. The two top indoor uses to teach children starting in year 9 girls scrambled to sign up for rowers boys and girls went to Hugh September to row in a stable environment rowing. Some were initially disappointed Moore and Molly Curry. and to bring revenue into the club via but as the term continued a few realized parents rowing in it mid-week. This very In January our top two ergers travelled to rowing really was the toughest sport in social practise entails rowing down river Limerick to take part in the Irish Indoor town and moved to less demanding to a local restaurant for coffee and Rowing Championship. Nobody enters activities leaving room for others. The returning all for a modest fee. these competitions for fun, testament to rowing club membership settled at 127 the many buckets strategically placed In March the rowing club attended Lagan with over 100 pupils attending every around the hall as extreme effort can Head of the river in Belfast and enjoyed Saturday. induce vomiting. Hugh Moore a year some success the most obvious being the In October the rowing club held its annual young came in the top third of the highly girls’ junior 15 and 16 eights coming a dinner at the Royal Court Hotel Portrush. competitive under 18 category. Molly close second to Enniskillen Royal This function was kindly attended by the Curry again a year young won a bronze Grammar School (formerly Portora) headmaster and representatives from the medal in the under 16 category and this arguably one of the best sweep rowing Board of Governors. The venue held 150 outstanding result was to see her invited clubs in Ireland. Many CGS rowers and was oversubscribed; guest speakers to a Rowing Ireland training camp later in enjoyed their first competitive head of the included Olympians Alan Campbell, the month. river race. Richard Archibald and GB rower and ex In February the Rowing Club was In April the regatta season commenced. Fermanagh girl Miss Holly Nixon. In a delighted to take delivery of a touring The small venues tend to be side by side pleasant blend of informative speeches quadruple scull. This stable boat was knock out racing, and offer the most and good craic the evening passed in a bought thanks to the generosity of four exciting of all sport for spectators. We flash, a very generous raffle raised £1,200. major benefactors Coleraine Old Boys travelled to Neptune Regatta in Dublin full The following awards and rowing club Association, Golf Links Hotel Portrush, of hope and aspirations. It is my positions were presented by the guest Scott Engineering Garvagh and the Ulster experience in most regattas during the speakers. Club Captain Hugh Moore, Branch of Rowing Ireland. In a boat day something unfortunate happens to Ladies Captain Caroline Barr, Club naming ceremony hosted by the one of your crews or your competitors. secretary John Anderson, Vice-Captain Headmaster the benefactors were This bad luck evens out over the course of Coran McCook, Ladies Vice-Captain thanked for their generosity and the boat the season and you just ride the punches Gemma Quigg and boatmen Jamie Millar, was named “Deerstalker” a reference to when it’s your turn. In Neptune if it could Jamie Grant. The achievement award was the restaurant within the Golf Links Hotel go wrong it did go wrong. A boat winning shared between Sarah Kirkpatrick and by a huge margin was disqualified for clipping a lane buoy, another disqualified for being late to the start not withstanding a huge traffic jam of boats in an oversubscribed entry. When a crew I would have put my house on, caught a crab (sounds like this should be in the fishing section) and lost, I should have dived for one of the excellent boathouse bars. However I remained and given it was April fool’s day when one of the volunteer coaches phoned me to say one of our boats crashed while leading a race and was badly damaged, I thought it was a joke; it wasn’t. I will need therapy before we return to Neptune next year.

The Irish Schools Championships were

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Boyce clearly both terrified in their respective first sculling race. The boys 15 eight gave me a race against Fermoy that will remain in my memory for a very long time unbelievably exciting with CGS hanging on to win in style.

A two week break and then Belfast sprint regatta when I entered one of the largest squads ever, 48 rowers many competing for the first time. Experience proved decisive and those with race pedigree behind them delivered the medals winning the men’s J18 single scull, women’s 15 quad and 14 single scull. A large number of finals were made but not turned into victories perhaps a lack of race hardness. Lessons were learnt boys particularly learnt that a victory one week does not guarantee further success. held in Limerick in mid-April and the good quad laid Neptune ghosts to rest by times returned with some outstanding winning their event as did the girls’ junior Mid June another trip down south for results. A league table was run based on 14 double. Both girls junior 15 quads met seven athletes this time to Athlone results and CGS came joint 13th out of the in the final The girls 15 eight stormed to regatta. The weather was unbelievable 42 schools competing and the highest another victory this time over Neptune. the car showing 27 degrees, I launched placed school from the North. Hugh The boys junior 15 squad showed the crews and wished them well before Moore the seventeen year old single considerable fight and determination and scurrying back into the shade. Athlone is a sculler came an outstanding fourth out of they gave me great hope for the future. oh so serious regatta a big step up for our 32 rowers in the under 23 category. The athletes. Very few boats go through from The following week 28 rowers entered girls’ junior 15 eight won their final to be the 5 lane heats to the final usually just Carlow regatta, due to its location it crowned Irish Schools Champions 2017. one or two. Our j18 sculler Moore won his necessitated travelling down the night Rachel Bradley won the junior 14 single heat and came second in the final he before. Accommodation is always a scull final and joined forces with Molly managed a third place in the j18 double problem and I decided camping was the Curry to win the junior 15 double scull accompanied by his j16 crewmate Boyce. way forward a throw back to my youth final. All other crew rowed with distinction Our girl J15 sculler Curry rowing up at J16 and how the majority of rowers did it in just missing out on medals due to the high won the event and then rowing three years gone bye. Carlow hosted us in style standard of competition. years above her age category and came by providing a meal at the boathouse the 3rd in the J18 event. Our J18 girls double The following week two girls and three night before and then a kind Carlow of McClelland and Quigg just missed out boys entered the Belfast City Marathon as member gave up his large back garden to on the A final whilst our J15 girls double of a relay team in direct competition with be turned into a mini Glastonbury without Dalzell and Bradley came 3rd out of their COBRA counterparts. The purpose the singing talent. It certainly was an twelve boats. Our j14 girl sculler Bradley was to raise money for Mencap .COBRA experience and as I may try and talk won her event. I christened this lot the completed the event in a very creditable parents into attending next year I won’t magnificent seven. 3hours 32 minutes with the pupils a mere go into details. 4 minutes behind them. A tremendous On the last Saturday before the school The rowing by CGS was spectacular 28 worthwhile achievement for all involved. holidays 57 rowers travelled to Portadown athletes brought home 39 medals winning for a fun regatta. Our excellent hosts were At the start of May we attended ten boat categories. Not everyone won a repaying the hospitality we showed them Portadown regatta with every increasing medal and how they dealt with last year when they visited CGS. This will numbers just under 40 rowers many disappointment amongst such success hopefully become an annual event. The experiencing their first regatta. Everyone was a real testament to their character. I rowing consisted of mixed crews of all enjoyed their day made difficult by enjoyed all the success but in particular ages, sexes and clubs competing against blustery conditions. The boys junior 14 single scullers Jack Edgar and Kathryn

7 than others I will give them an majority of the opposition being university opportunity to test once their respective students another outstanding semi-finals seasons have ended. slot was achieved. Our year 10 girl rower Molly Curry quietly The Craig Cup consisted of a three boat watched her team mate’s achievements final Enniskillen, Methody and ourselves. waiting for her opportunity to shine. She Enniskillen stormed to a commanding lead was entered a year young in the highly that they never relinquished leaving an competitive junior 16 single scull category. epic tussle between Methody who led This hugely talented athlete rowed CGS for 1300 metres of the 1500 metre controlled heat and semi-finals before course. The resilience that I witnessed in unleashing her power and storming to Portadown and Carlow came to the fore gold by a country mile. Later on Sunday and carried CGS 3feet clear over the line I afternoon this young lady raced in her have rarely if ever cheered such a great own age group j15 and secured another second place. emphatic victory. These two rowers The girls in a two boat final stayed in deserve huge praise but they are but the contention with Enniskillen until the last talented tip of a huge iceberg of CGS bend that fell in Enniskillen’s favour rowers waiting to follow in their wake allowing them to pull away for a 3 length That’s a summary of a very busy and I each other and providing you took part in victory. I was delighted with the believe successful season, the foundation a race you won a medal. The racing and performance of both crews and look blocks are now in place for on-going barbeque were excellent and enjoyed in forward to next year’s competition when improvement year on year. None of which equal measures. we try and bring these trophies home. would be possible without the immense On Monday 26th June two crews travelled In mid-July two rowers attended the Irish dedication of Dr George Hull and our to Enniskillen to take part in the junior 16 Championships in Cork and made a little volunteer coaches Alan, Alex, Andy, Ulster Rowing Championship hosted by bit of history by being the first CGS rowers Darren, Ivor, both Jamies, Kathryn, Phil, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School. The to compete at this Championship. Our Ross and Tony. Every medal won is down boy’s trophy was the Craig Cup with a year 13 boy Hugh Moore faced a daunting to your hard work and enthusiasm. Huge history going back to 1952. task in the junior men's single scull thanks also goes to the band of parents competing against forty of the top junior who have supported rowing in so many The girls inaugural event was the Iain scullers in Ireland. This talented young ways from driving vehicles, to taking Kennedy Cup named in honour of Iain a man set the tone for the weekend when photographs, to being the appropriate stalwart of Enniskillen rowing and former he led the field in his heat from start to lady present for the girls on away trips. CAI Old Boy. The majority of CGS crews finish and booked a well-deserved semi- were a year young with 13 of the 16 As the rowing club grows both in size and final place. In his next race he again led off rowers eligible to compete at this level standard more help will be needed in the blocks but was overhauled and next year. The boys boat had a talented terms of coaching, equipment, fund finished the event a very commendable rugby player whilst the girls an equally raising and sponsorship. If you can help in 13th position especially as he is a year talented hockey player. I am a believer in any capacity please get in touch. young and will be back faster and stronger children doing more than one sport and if next year. On Saturday morning he Jeremy Johnston they have fitness and rowing talent better completed again this time with the

For more information on COBRA or rowing past or present at CAI & CGS, visit our website at COBRArowing.co.uk or facebook.com/COBRArowing Editor: Alex Humphrey If you have any comments or would like to contribute to the next newsletter, please get in touch at [email protected]